Weddings 101

There is a hint of spring in the air, the daffodils are blooming and the mail brings tidings of impending nuptials. The wedding season is upon us. And the wedding season brings, of course, wedding questions. Here is a compilation of your most frequently asked etiquette questions about weddings.

One Wearing White

I have seen them, too. The fashion aficionados proclaiming that white is the “new black” this season as a wardrobe staple. This may be true, but for weddings and showers, leave the solid white to the bride.

No Guessing Guests

Unless the invitation specifically states “and guest” or “and family” you can presume only the people named on the invitation are invited. You may want, feel, think, and be sure others should be invited, but only those issuing the invitations can make those decisions. For you singles out there, weddings are great places to meet potential significant others.

Pay the Price for Postage

Wedding gifts should be mailed to the bride (and/or her parents) in advance, not brought to the actual wedding. Gifts are easily misplaced during the festivities and can be damaged in transport. Even a check should be mailed to ensure the bridal couple receives it. And, whenever possible, put the card inside the package of wrapping for easy identification.

Ceremony and Celebration

Some people feel attending the marriage ceremony is optional. The whole point of a wedding is to watch the actual event take place. It is rather tacky to skip the ceremony and attend only the celebration. The bride may not notice, but the other guests will.

Arrive Before the Bride

Okay, this seems like the most obvious advice, but for some reason there are always stragglers. Make every possible effort to arrive at the wedding ceremony prior to the bride walking down the aisle. This means that if you are not familiar with the route to the affair, leave lots of extra time.

Clicking Cameras

Pictures may be taken at the beginning and the end of the ceremony, but only the photographer hired for the event should be clicking away during the ceremony (this includes the vows, ring exchange and kiss).

Until They Cut the Cake

Hopefully you are able to relax and enjoy the wedding festivities. If you have accepted the celebration invitation, you should remain at the party until the wedding cake has been cut. Once the cake cutting has begun, if you must leave, you may.

Gracious Good-byes

Before you leave, be sure to wish the wedding couple well, congratulate the families of the bride/groom, and than the wedding hosts (whoever paid for the wedding).

First Year Fallacy

Someone somewhere began a vicious rumor that a guest can wait up to a year to give the wedding couple a gift. The twisted reasoning states that the guest can then be sure the couple will stay together before having to give a gift. This myth is simply not true. Ideally, gifts should be given before the wedding. If the wedding does not take place, the gift will be returned.

Smile, Smile, Smile

The strongest advice for bridal couples is to remember that when you turn to face your guests to walk back down the aisle after the ceremony, turn, pause, smile, and then walk smiling the whole way. Too many times the couple races back up the aisle with a look of dazed confusion. The smiles set the whole tone for the celebration.